PRESIDENT WILSON'S SPEECHES 61
with one of the sentences I have just read : c If any party shall refuse to
comply, the Council shall propose measures necessary to give effect to the
recommendations.'
A case in point, a purely hypothetical case, is this : Suppose there
is in the possession of a particular Power a piece of territory, or some
other substantial thing in dispute, to which it is claimed that it is not
entitled. Suppose that the matter is submitted to the Executive
Council for recommendation as to the settlement of the dispute, diplo-
macy having failed, and suppose that the decision is in favour of the
party which claims the subject-matter of dispute, as against the party
which has the subject-matter in dispute. *
Then, if the party in possession of the subject-matter in dispute
merely sits still and does nothing, it has accepted the decision of the
Council in the sense that it makes no resistance, but something must be
done to see that it surrenders the subject-matter in dispute.
In such a case, the only case contemplated, it is provided that the
Executive Council may then consider what steps may be necessary to
oblige the party against whom judgement has been given to comply with
the decisions of the Council.
Cites a case for use of force.
[After having read Article XIX, President Wilson also stopped and
said :]
Let me say that before being embodied in this document this was
the subject-matter of a very careful discussion by representatives of the
five greater parties, and that their unanimous conclusion is the matter
embodied in this article.
[After having read the entire document, President Wilson continued
as follows :]
It gives me pleasure to add to this formal reading of the result of our
labours that the character of the discussion which occurred at the sittings
of the Commission was not only of the most constructive, but of the
most encouraging sort. It was obvious throughout our discussions that,
although there were subjects upon which there were individual dif-
ferences of judgement with regard to the method by which our objects
should be obtained, there was practically at no point any serious
differences of opinion or motive as to the objects which we were seeking.
Indeed, while these debates were not made the opportunity for the
expression of enthusiasm and sentiment, I think the other members of
the commission will agree with me that there was an undertone of high
respect and of enthusiasm for the thing we are trying to do, which was
heartening throughout every meeting, because we felt that in a way
this Conference did entrust unto us the expression of one of its highest
and most important purposes, to see to it that the concord of the world
in the future with regard to the objects of justice should not be subject
to doubt or uncertainty, that the co-operation of the great body of
nations should be assured in the maintenance of peace upon terms of
honour and of international obligations.
The compulsion of that task was constantly upon us, and at no point